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The Council of State plays a crucial role
Last Friday, 14 people were elected to represent 14 regions on the Council of State. Two regions, Bono Este and Oeste, could not conclude the election of their representatives. There is a court order on Bono’s election, while the election in the Western Region ended tied, and the second round was held yesterday.
When the two regions are classified, we would have the full complement of members of the Council of State, made up of the 16 regional representatives, 11 members appointed by the President and four other people who had previously served as President of the Supreme Court, Head of State Major of Defense, Inspector General of Police and President of the National House of Chiefs.
The election of regional representatives on the council resulted in an interesting result: Mr. Enoch Teye (ET) Mensah, former Sports Minister, statesman and stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was elected by 100% of the vote to they represent the Greater Accra region.
Their election goes a long way towards underscoring the apolitical nature of the Council of State, as envisioned by the framers of the 1992 Constitution.
Once again, the backgrounds of the Council of State members – business, academia, law, politics, security, and leadership – show that the president will have a wide range of expertise to rely on for advice.
The Council of State is a body that advises the President so that he can carry out his duties effectively. The framers of the 1992 Constitution wanted a semblance of the council of elders advising a chief in the traditional political system.
Therefore, its fundamental role cannot be underestimated. The importance of the Council of State is seen in the 1992 Constitution, with an entire chapter (Chapter 9) dedicated to it. The Council of State advises the President on the making of certain crucial appointments, such as the presidents and deputies of the Electoral Commission (EC), the Auditor General, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Administrator of the District Assemblies. Common fund, boards of directors of public corporations and many others.
Article 90 of the 1992 Constitution also gives the Council of State the power to consider bills signed by Parliament that the President intends to amend before turning them into law. Furthermore, Article 91 gives the council the power to initiate or make recommendations on any matter that is being considered by the president or a minister of state.
The Daily Graphic congratulates the newly elected and appointed members of the Council of State and reminds them that their mandate goes to the heart of the governance of the country. The duty to advise the Chief Executive of the country is sacred and must be fulfilled with a sense of patriotism.
We urge council members to come up with ideas that will allow the president to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and lead the country on the path of growth and sustainability.
Members should also not view their positions as an elevation to power, but rather as a call to serve the good people of this country. They must not simply become part of the bureaucratic structure of governance, but must work hard to remove obstacles in the way of good governance and also issues that are at odds with our democratic ideals.
The Daily Graphic calls on the newly constituted Council of State to be assiduous in its work and also to ensure that it does not become a rubber stamp for government decisions, but rather an entity that will guide the President in making decisions. correct for the good of the country.
The members of the council are personalities who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields; therefore, we ask that you continue to use your vast experience and knowledge to help Ghana.
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